Friday, 21 March 2008

Hibiscus, classified in the family of Malvaceae, is one of the ornamental plants mainly for tropical countries. The species is conspicious for its large trumpet-shaped flowers ranging from white to red, yellow or purple. There are over 200 Hibiscus species in the world. Hibiscus rosa-sinensis is the most common species with the highest number of cultivars. The different colour of H. rosa-sinensis is well shown in the set of four stamps issued by Malaysian postal authority in 1984 (see below). Four different colours were depicted in the set of stamps - white, red, pink and orange. In Malaysia, the venercular name for H. rosa-sinensis is Bunga Raya.

In fact, H. rosa-sinensis is the national flower of Malaysia. The red colour H. rosa-sinensis is selected for this purpose. Therefore, the frequent appearence of red H. rosa-sinensis in Malaysian stamps is not surprising. In 1979, a set of 7 definitive (state definitive issue) flora stamps was issued by Malaysian postal authority, and one of the flora stamps is H. rosa-sinensis (see below).

One may find that the design of Malaysia stamps to commemorate national day frequently carries H. rosa-sinensis, as such the set of stamps to commemorate 10th anniversary of Independence and 10th anniversary of formation of Malaysia (see the next two sets of stamps below).

In Malaysia, the white colour H. rosa-sinensis (Bunga Raya Putih) is a medicinal plant. The root is used for traditional treatment. The use of Bunga Raya Putih as traditional medicine appeared in a stamp issued in 1998 by Pos Malaysia (see below).Stamps with image of H. rosa-sinensis were released from time to time to promote tourism in Malaysia (see the next two stamps below).

In 2007, Pos Malaysia issued personalised (corporate) stamps for the first time. Four different designs were issued for both the values 30s and 50s (altogether eight different stamps). One of the four designs of the personalised stamps carries an image of H. rosa-sinensis (see below).

The latest stamp of Malaysia with the motif of H. rosa-sinensis is in one of the six defintive flora stamps issued on 31 January 2007. This is a state definitive issue, therefore these stamps were issued for 14 states.The yellow colour of H. rosa-sinensis was depicted in the stamp (see below).

The other countries which have issued stamps on H. rosa-sinensis are Thailand, Taiwan and Russia (see the next three stamps below).

There is another Hibiscus species which has been used as national flower for South Korea - H. syriacus. Japan and South Korea have issued such stamps on this Hibiscus species (see the next two stamps below).

Hibiscus mutabilis is depicted on a flora stamp of Thailand (see below).

One of the beautiful Hibiscus species is H. schizopetalus which is characterized by its divided petals. The shape of its petals is absolutely fabulous. Kiribati issued stamp on this species (see below).

Another common Hibiscus species depicted in stamps is H. calyphyllus. This species appeared in stamps of Tanzania, Pitcairn Islands and Zil Elwannyen Sesel (see the next three stamps).

Tuesday, 18 March 2008

In 1997, United Nations General Assembly proclaimed year 2001 to be the International Year of Volunteers. Showing below is a beautiful slogan postmark to mark the International Year of Volunteers. The postmark was produced by the postal authority of United Nations New York. The stamp is one of the two (34c and 80c) stamps to commemorate the International Year of Volunteers issued by United Nations New York on 29 March 2001. Date of postmark: 20 July 2001.

PATA stands for Pacific Area Travel Association. Malaysia is one of the country members of PATA. In 1986, the annual meeting/conference of PATA was held in Kuala Lumpur (9-16 April 1986). Malaysia postal authority (later on known as Pos Malaysia) issued a set of six stamps on 14 April 1986 to commemorate the event. The event was also promoted through meter cancellation. For the event held in Kuala Lumpur, an official logo with motif of sea turtle was used.

A set of six stamps commemorating PATA conference was released on 14 April 1986.

Actually, much earlier the annual PATA conference was also held in Kuala Lumpur in 1972. Postal authority of Malaysia released a set of three stamps (above) to commemorate the PATA 1972 on 31 January 1972.

Thursday, 13 March 2008

Pos Malaysia released a set of four stamps and a miniature sheet on the topic of nocturnal animals on 13 March 2008. The four stamps are 30sen Malay badger (Mydaus javanensis), 30sen moonrat (Echinosorex gymnurus), 50sen golden cat (Catopuma temminckii) and RM1 flying fox (Pteropus vampyrus). The miniature sheet contains two stamps - RM3 slow loris (Nycticebus coucang) and RM2 tarsier (Tarsius bancanus). The uniqueness of the miniature sheet is that the eyes of slow loris and tarsier glow (yellow colour) under ultraviolet light due to phosphor tagging. This is the first time phosphor tagging used on Malaysian stamps.

Thursday, 6 March 2008

This is the last posting for the series of "Dragonflies of Malaysia". The sheetlet of this stamp issue contains 25 stamps portraying many species of drangonflies and damselflies found in Malaysia. I have depicted each of them along with beautiful photographs taken by myself. I hope you have enjoyed the presentation of this series.Vestalis gracilisVestalis gracilis is one of the large size damselfly species. The metalic green colour on its body is particulary stricking. This species resembles Vestalis amoena in many ways. The main characteristic to distinguish V. gracilis from V. amoena is on the green colour pattern on thorax. Vestalis gracilis has discrete light green patches on the thorax whereas V. amoena has almost continuous green patches. Vestalis gracilis is a forest species which is normally found at flowing clear forest stream.

Paragomphus capricornisThe dragonfly species in the stamp (see below) is actually Paragomphus capricornis. However, it is misidentified as Burmagomphus divaricatus. Burmagomphus divaricatus is rather a green dragonfly and it does not have a pair of yellow colour clubs at the tail. On the other hand, Paragomphus capricornis is yellowish in colour and the pair of yellow colour clubs at the tail is particular prominent. Paragomphus capricornis likes clear forest stream with cobbled or gravel bottom.

Wednesday, 5 March 2008

Crocothemis serviliaCrocothemis servilia is a large red dragonfly. It is normally spotted at open exposed habitat. This species likes sun and frequently perches under sun. The female individual of C. servilia has dull yellow colour. The male and female of C. servilia are depicted on the stamps.

Orthetrum testaceumOrthetrum testaceum is quite similar to Crocothemis servilia from many aspects - the colour and the size. From far it is quite difficult to tell which is which. The main characters distingiushing these two species are the eyes and wing venation. The two eyes of O. testaceum are touching each other, but they are barely touching each other in C. servilia. O. testaceum has complete distal antenodal (forewing) whereas C. servilia has incomplet distal antenodal. O. testaceum is commonly seen perching under shade with sun spots.